Strategies & Activities for the "National Tax Consciousness Year" and taxpayer information and assistance campaign 1994

February 4, 1994 REVENUE MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 07-94 SUBJECT : Strategies & Activities for the "National Tax Consciousness Year" and Taxpayer Information and Assistance Campaign 1994 TO : All Regional Directors, Revenue District Office and Others Concerned 1. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT The BIR's tax collection efforts play a crucial role in the Philippines' drive towards becoming a Newly Industrialized Country by the year 2000. The task of sustaining the nation's economic rebound rest to a large extent on the BIR, particularly on its ability to generate the required tax revenues and to accomplish its Tax Administration Strategic Plan. Furthermore, the cooperation of the tax-paying public is necessary to achieve these national goals. For these reasons, 1994 has been declared as the " National Tax Consciousness Year " pursuant to the President's Proclamation No. 319, to activate all sectors of society for these development efforts. 2. STRATEGIES The Commissioner of Internal Revenue, officials and employees of the National, Regional, and District Offices shall all be involved in the year-round taxpayer information and assistance campaign to support the "National Tax Consciousness Year". A Project Team will be constituted to coordinate activities. BIR will adopt several strategies, foremost of which is the use of multi-media resources and other communication and publicity activities to arouse the tax consciousness of the public, in general and the taxpayers, in particular. It is aimed to make them more aware of their civic obligations to pay taxes and to emphasize the benefits that they would derive therefrom, thereby enhancing voluntary compliance. Furthermore, the readiness of the BIR offices nationwide, especially the regional and district offices, to render efficient, courteous and fast service will be enhanced. Coordination with other government agencies as well as local government units will be done to maximize the information campaign. Linkages will be established with various business, civic, professional, religious organizations, and the print and broadcast media on the national as well as local levels. Finally, there will be an ongoing simplification of compliance procedures and requirements directed toward enhancing the convenience of taxpayer. aisa dc The campaign's slogan shall be " TAX NA ATING BINABAYARAN, BAYAN ANG MAKIKINABANG " in Pilipino and " TAXES: MY SHARE IN PROGRESS ", in English. The logo is shown in Annex A. these can be used in the taxpayer information activities that will be conducted. 3. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the strategies and activities of the taxpayer information and assistance campaign are to: a) sustain a year-round taxpayer awareness, information assistance campaign; b) maximize the filing of tax returns and the payment of correct taxes by existing and potential taxpayers, and; cd i c) project a positive image of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. 4. MAJOR ACTIVITIES A. The concerned National Office unit shall perform the following activities: 1) Procure and distribute the necessary information materials prescribed by the Commissioner. 2. Allocate and release the required tax campaign funds to the Regional district offices. 3) Coordinate with the publishers of national newspapers, major broadcast companies, advertisers and private sector groups in the information campaign. acd 4) Provide any other resource support to the Regional and District Offices. B. A Project team with the Assistant Commissioner Management and Planning Service as head, is created to monitor the activities of the campaign and coordinate with the National Office, Regional Offices (RO), Revenue District Offices, and identified private sector groups. The Project Team shall formulate a workplan for the campaign and shall be assisted by the Public Information and Education Division. C. The Regional Directors shall perform the following activities: 1. Organize tax seminars, dialogues and forum in their respective jurisdiction. 2. Enlist the participation of local chapters of civic, business and professional organizations in the taxpayer service and information activities. 3. Coordinate with local newspaper publishers and broadcast (radio and television) companies to feature tax information messages and materials. 4. Distribute and/or display information materials, such as streamers, posters, stickers, primers, mailers, leaflets and tax returns. D. The Revenue District Offices shall perform the following activities in addition to the activities mentioned in part "C": cdt 1. Establish a taxpayer service desk/counter in the office premises that would promote fast, efficient and courteous services to taxpayers. 2. Display the flowcharts of frontline services procedures in conspicuous places in the office premises as prescribed in RMO No. 47-93. 3. Set-up mobile filing centers/tax clinics. 5. MONITORING PROCEDURES 1. A monthly accomplishment report (Annex B) shall be submitted by Revenue District Officers to their respective Regional Directors. cdt 2. The Regional Directors shall then consolidate and transmit the monthly accomplishment report to the Chief, Public Information and Education Division not later than the 10th day of the month following the period covered. 6. REPEALING CLAUSE Provisions of all previous revenue issuances, including the reporting format prescribed on RMO No. 43-92, inconsistent herewith, are hereby revoked or modified accordingly. aisa dc LIWAYWAY VINZONS-CHATO Commissioner of Internal Revenue ANNEX A ANNEX B Report of Taxpayer Service Activities